New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-29
THE HOSPITAL QUESTION:
AN ARGUMENT AGAINST THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF
DESIGNATED GIFTS.

DESIGNATED GIFTS.
TO me Fdit0r Of The Tribune.
SIR: have only the best of feelings towards tho
Hospital saturday and sunday Association. but think
| they are mailing a great I'm departing from tho
original PURPOSE set forth I'm ihc constitution by the
late chsngcs made.
Tie tax of % FER designated gifts for current
expenses submitted although contrary TO the
constitution, but their late change Of the constitution
and by laws permits them 20 extend this penalty
even TO rndov mcnt gifts and up to any percentage
they desire Such a course would be injurious 10 tho
hospitals. as a lcnaty would discourage designated
gifts. and the largo amounts being generally HcsS
mated would result dsastrously for thu hospitals
Last year the London Association was not able 10
collect within about 100000 of the amount needed
for the requirements OF their hos pitfalls and are obliged
10 have closed from public use about 1000 beds they
discouraged designated gifts.
II IS only human nature that pcorc giving largo
even small. suns of money should wish 10 hrSieih'
tie Institution IN which they most Interested Tho
day that designated frs disappear from our mctho1
of raising molcy, that day VIII b" IN" commencement
~ utcwarmucSS. Indifference and decay I'm our mus
ar successful financial management Of hospitals.
! lc.eve that AmcscanS can better manage ih"lr
own Institutions ami that they should not take Adch
a feeble position a. that of following English meth
/ obs.
] believe our own common sens" viii enable us 10
manage our hospitals. and that our me- hoo' OF
]
lclc,c IN encouraging every trustee ~ every hos
plial In doing all hc by individual effort, ar by
oIc.,t.un with others on Ioslttal DAY or any "ihr
da,. I'm influencing those that hc can to give III any
form th"y desire and 10 do II through Inc hUu'"N
and sunday As,ociaiion oi thlou- any other channel
also that tho donor be sico designate or NOT, and
Tia neither elycr nor pcni should be discouraged
by penalty or Gicta from any source Whatever
PC feet sscciO N IN all.
II Ne, result tc that institution + more favored
than others. because - friend, moro active and
liberal. then I'll ;hc icttcr-hcy set good '>ainIe
for tie oihc., to follow. The object f, to rct tie
best results and 80 the most COOL .h'fc j. 'ome
thing moro than '.u,l cnt needed to cate and main
tain surcc,, fui, ..,ch useful institutions.
Tor the past TWO or 'hicc years She a"tion ~ The
Distributing Committee ma, lccn under The following
iue:
"Vlcrc n hospital ha, received - 900 or NOR" In
special dc> fatIo., amount eIual To - l"r cont
~ such designation, shall bc deducted from o. lfo
ihu deducted SHALL be- divided equally among mum
bcr ~ .D~ tuto.~ lowest on tn list
Iicic f. an illustration Of tn" a'oy" rn'c: Mr. A.
dcslruaics the Tyc and Ia Hospital $500" ior
current cN1cr,os The association sends that 49, 90
to said hospital but dcduc, from 'hr hospital. share
81 uadf.i snatch money - r"r cont ON tnid 5000
II de-. -uatcd gn said hospital TIM, loses 500.
AMI thr donor IS haf'rd III his aucnp to This 'Ni"nt
sad 5000 TO per cent? !, distributed among The ten
To- ct Hospitals IN ia" LIST
sc cal churches have been mailing partial pay
rent, thlou b annual collect .onS for Endowment of
bod, In tho Presbyterian lo>IifaL These paytcut,
have passed throu h The tatutday and sunday .,sNo
ciatipn. ~ thcJ were Tor cudowucLt, TIA" a,,oci-
alton under il, constitution and los Law, could ~" ta\
tie d., Ft1l - Ter cent. icW Nc'lS a-u th' asst"
citation changed It's constitution md ly laws ana arc
nov hc. fron restrictions and can ruioic" - Irr
cent upon these payments Tor endowed 'cdS. ''du'i
ug the ih' hospitals ,ha.c of undcs grated
money.
~ change Of the Above ruic" (which Is IN their
power 20 Ualci thr toiunttc" ran continue thor A.
erosion ~ ding the ccuta-c OF tc tax or p'naIy
80 ug 100. u they 49, dc>fr
rEr.r,rERIAN HOSPITAL M>NiGrE
Ac~ York. Doc -. lS~7.